NSP:316 The 1770 Beginner Spearfishing Retreat Debrief Vol. 2
Noob Spearo Podcast | Spearfishing Tips, Stories and Interviews
Release Date: 05/04/2026
Noob Spearo Podcast | Spearfishing Tips, Stories and Interviews
Twelve beginners. Two days on the reefs of Agnes Water. One bloke who was mentally drafting his Marketplace listing for his speargun on Saturday afternoon — then shot a red throat emperor at 20m and became a fully committed spearo on the spot. This is the 1770 Beginner Retreat debrief, Mark Two, and it's everything the Noob Spearo ethos stands for: full froth, no ego, and a group of total strangers backing each other so hard it makes your abs sore from laughing. Shrek gathers the whole crew — students and instructors — on the last night for an unfiltered roundtable covering their...
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NSP:314 — KillShot, Deep Apnea & the Real Shark Shield Story | Ed Martin Ed Martin is one of those blokes who genuinely can't help himself — after years running a dive shop, guiding charters, and building timber spearguns under the KillShot brand in the Florida Keys, he bought carbon fibre fin company Deep Apnea, got involved in bringing Shark Shield back to market, and watched it all peak and crash at the same time. He's since closed the shop, sold the boat, moved 400 miles north to an 80-acre former turtle farm near Ocala, and is now running two manufacturing businesses out of...
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NSP:314 The Nordic Endeavour, NZ Tahr Hunts & Near-Blackout Lessons | Josh Halley Josh Halley of Souls Untapped is back on the Noob Spearo Podcast. He's a spearo, adventure filmmaker, and self-described chaos merchant from the Shetland Islands, Scotland — and this time he's got big news: he's rowing the entire coastline of Norway with an ex-Olympic rower, a freediving coach, and a fellow adventurer, spearfishing and cleaning up the ocean along the way. That's before we even get to the near-blackout in Bali, the 50kg dogtooth he deliberately left at depth in Papua New Guinea, and the...
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Reset Breathing, Equalisation Fixes & Ocean Glide: Cindy Yang on Spearfishing, Freediving and Mindset. What happens when a Taiwanese-born Californian firefighter, underwater photographer, and freediving coach moves to Australia for love and brings two decades of ocean wisdom with her? Cindy Yang of Ocean Glide joins Shrek for a wide-ranging conversation that covers her extraordinary life arc — from a hyperactive kid in Taipei who'd never seen the ocean, to chasing abalone on the Northern California coast, to becoming one of the few female firefighters in her station, to eventually...
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Depth Progression for Spearfishing: EQ, Technique, Safety & Training with Mark Davies (Karma Dives) On the Noob Spearo Podcast, host Shrek talks with Mark Davies from Karma Dives (Hervey Bay) about safe depth progression for spearfishing and freediving, focusing on why divers plateau and how to move from 10m to 15m, 20m and beyond. They cover equalisation troubleshooting (tongue positions, head-angle training, pulsing/warmups, balloons), refining technique and streamlining, disciplined surface intervals, and the added risk of spearing versus line diving. Mark shares cautionary...
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Host Shrek opens the Noob Spearo podcast with a listener voice message from Matt sharing ear-care tips for divers (coconut oil drops before diving and periodic rinses with a 50/50 vinegar and alcohol mix). The episode then jumps into a last-day, post-trip recap of the Whitsundays Sail & Spear Trip, with Sam the Waterman explaining the context: sailing through the Whitsunday Islands to the outer Great Barrier Reef, hundreds of fish landed across the trip, multiple 20kg+ GTs caught on rod and line between spearfishing sessions, and notable catches like Red Throat and Spangled Emperor...
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In this episode, host Shrek talks with Rhys Clay, a prominent figure in the Australian spearfishing scene and the creator behind the YouTube channel, . Both engage in a lively discussion covering a range of topics, including the cultural shifts within spearfishing, the concept of financing homes through spear catches, the charm of maintaining hobbies alongside a full-time job, and the practical challenges of making and using spearfishing equipment. Rhys shares insightful stories from the spearfishing community, recounts boat mishaps, and gives practical advice on gear, building a...
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In this episode of the Noob Spearo podcast, host Shrek is joined by Matthew Lewthwaite, who owns the on the Sunshine Coast. They discuss the intricacies and origins behind spearfishing gear, share important community updates, and reminisce about early spearfishing memories. Matt provides insights into starting the Dive Cave, his passion for high-quality gear, and the challenges of running a spearfishing business. They also delve into the local spearfishing scene, the importance of safety, and the journey from basic to advanced spearfishing techniques. The episode blends humor,...
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In this episode of the Noob Spearo Podcast, host Shrek interviews Jordan Hunter, founder of the . They discuss Jordan's background in spearfishing, the inspiration and development of the app, and its features such as social networking, buddy finding, and competition management. Jordan also shares insights into his personal spearfishing journey, the importance of meditation and relaxation in diving, and the potential of ice baths to improve diving performance. The conversation highlights the app's goal of building a global community of spearfishers and anglers, making it easier to connect and...
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The final installment of a multi-day spearfishing trip called Sail X Spear. The episode features a group discussion and informal debrief with participants and the crew aboard the boat Condor, where they share their highlights, challenges, and "frother" (enthusiastic person) shoutouts from the trip. Conversations center on diving experiences, technical improvements like float line management and shooting accuracy, impressive fish catches (including a mangrove jack and a tuskie), and the positive, ego-free, teamwork-focused atmosphere fostered throughout the journey. The host, Shrek, and others...
info_outlineTwelve beginners. Two days on the reefs of Agnes Water. One bloke who was mentally drafting his Marketplace listing for his speargun on Saturday afternoon — then shot a red throat emperor at 20m and became a fully committed spearo on the spot. This is the 1770 Beginner Retreat debrief, Mark Two, and it's everything the Noob Spearo ethos stands for: full froth, no ego, and a group of total strangers backing each other so hard it makes your abs sore from laughing. Shrek gathers the whole crew — students and instructors — on the last night for an unfiltered roundtable covering their biggest wins, worst moments, frothiest memories, and the universal lesson that keeps coming up no matter who you ask: slow down, persevere, and trust the process. If you've been thinking about doing a beginner retreat — or you just need a reminder of why you fell in love with spearfishing — strap in.
KEY TOPICS COVERED:
- Luke's redemption arc: from "listing my speargun on Marketplace" to stoning a red throat at 20m
- Mackenzie's first-ever ocean experience — four bull sharks on Day 1, unfazed by Sunday
- The Cobia Chronicles: Lachlan and Patrick's multiply-missed, eventually-landed fish
- Maddie's Mu: stoned cold with a borrowed gun and the boat bearing down
- The universal lesson: slowing down, settle on the bottom, let fish come to you
- Equalisation tips: the pool exercise for divers who EQ flat but struggle vertical
- Flash's biggest instructor takeaway: spear more fish yourself to teach better
- "It's not what you think" — Scotty on how mental limits disguise as physical ones
- Christian on spearfishing as a team sport, not an individual one
- Why beginner retreats create formative dive buddy bonds that last
CONNECT WITH THE CREW:
Dive Spear and Sport (Yemala): Agnes Water https://www.instagram.com/dive_spear_sport_1770/
Underwater Culture (Bri): https://www.instagram.com/breeesea/
No Viz Adventures (Flash/Reese): https://www.youtube.com/@novizadventures
NOOB SPEARO:
Spearfishing Courses and Retreats: spearfishingcourses.com.au
Instagram: @noobspearo
Website: noobspearo.com
Newsletter: noob-spearo.kit.com/floater
PARTNER DEALS:
Adreno Spearfishing: spearfishing.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save $20 on orders over $200
Neptonics: neptonics.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10% storewide
Old Man Blue: oldmanblue.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO for a free vinyl filleting apron on orders over $300
Aqualyte Hydration: aqualyte.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 10%
Dog & Gun Coffee: dogandguncoffee.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10%
HohnkeOutdoors: hohnkeoutdoors.com — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 20%